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With this newsletter, you will have received a short survey asking particularly about three aspects of our service: our Newsletter, Reward scheme and a new web site that we're developing. We would appreciate you taking a few minutes to complete the survey, so that we know how we can better meet your needs in the future. Thanks.
We have a solution for you - actually a choice of two!
1) Novartis have recently launched a service designed to help users of Sentinel, Interceptor and Program. They'll send you a free reminder every month (on the date that you choose) either by e-mail, or as an SMS text message on your mobile phone. Just go to www.novartispets.com and enter your details - they'll do the rest.
2) Perhaps you should switch to the new once-a-year ProHeart injection (detailed in our Christmas newsletter) and forget about monthly heartworm tablets forever. The injection is quick, easy and probably costs less than the tablets that you're using now. Our special offer (see below) makes ProHeart even better value. If you've been irregular with your heartworm tablets, then we may recommend a heartworm test before giving the ProHeart injection. If we do, then we'll discount this for you too!
Special Offer - ProHeart Injection
Just mention this ad to receive a
$10 discount on ProHeart SR-12 Injection,
the once-a-year heartworm prevention for dogs.
If your dog needs a heartworm test, then we'll give
a further $10 discount on the cost of the test.
Offer valid only until the end of August.
The cost varies with the dog's size. To give you an idea:
5 kg dog = $30, 15kg dog = $41, 30kg dog = $57
(Price is after discount not including HW test.
No other discounts will apply).
Remember that ProHeart doesn't target fleas or intestinal worms. We can recommend alternative ways of dealing with these problems. But if you regularly use either Sentinel or Interceptor then our advice would still be to stick with those.
Our Pet Care card scheme is a way of rewarding our regular clients. It makes quality health care for your pets more affordable. However, the scheme depends on you remembering to bring your card with you. Why not keep it in your purse or wallet so that you always have it with you? Remember that you can use it for almost anything that you spend at our hospital. If you don't have a Pet Care card yet, just ask us next time you're in.
Related articles: Pet Care Reward Card Scheme
Saturday consulting hours remain 9am - 12noon and 3pm - 5pm. Office hours are now 9:00am - 5:00pm, so between 12 and 3pm we will now stay open for phone calls, enquiries and medication sales - and some consultations if we have time.
Related articles: Hours/Appointment System
Arthritis is a very common problem in dogs, especially older dogs of some breeds. But dogs and cats of any age and any breed can be affected. And the winter cold usually means worsening of the pain and discomfort.
Does your pet show any of these signs of pain?
If so, then they may have arthritis. Lots of advances have been made
in the treatment of arthritis and there are many effective treatments available.
If you suspect arthritis, please make an appointment to discuss it.
And don't forget that your pet will need a warm dry place to sleep this winter,
up off the cold ground.
Related articles: Newsletter 9 - Arthritis , Newsletter 5 - Relief from Arthritis
Lots of our pets are overweight. In fact, as many as 30-40% of dogs and 10% of cats could be described as obese which means that they are more than 20% overweight. This is unhealthy and can reduce their activity and quality of life. It can also lead to serious health problems including arthritis, heart disease and pancreatitis.
To tell if your pet is overweight, here's an easy test. Run your hand gently along the side of their chest, and then along the middle of the back down to the base of the hips. You should be able to feel each individual rib and each bone of the spine. If you can't, or if you have to push to feel them, your pet is probably overweight.
Advising just how much food to give your pet is difficult. It depends on so many factors including breed, age, exercise and the type of food given. We are happy to tailor an individual weight-loss program specifically for your pet. But here are some general diet tips:
We've said it before, but we think it's worth repeating. Good flea control requires that you continue to treat your pets throughout the year. If you don't, then you might not notice a problem now, but come spring, you'll find you've bred a whole new generation of fleas ready to infect your pets. Suitable products include Sentinel, Revolution, Frontline, Advantage or Program.
Related articles: Newsletter 8 - Winter Flea Control , Newsletter 2 - Are you ready for the flea season?
Behaviour problems in dogs and cats are very common, and there are lots of different types. Many of these can be treated with correct diagnosis and retraining techniques. Medication is also available but often unnecessary. The most common behaviour problems include barking, aggression & biting, destructive behaviour, fears & phobias (eg. thunderstorms or fireworks) and urine marking.
If you're having these or any other behaviour problems with your pets, make an appointment and talk to us about them. We'll also try to cover some common behaviour problems in future newsletters.
We are now separating the prices for our microchip service into 2 smaller components:
Remember that neither option includes council registration, which must be paid directly to the council. Registration is compulsory for all dogs and all new cats. Microchipping is compulsory for all new dogs and cats, and will soon be compulsory for all dogs.
Related articles: Microchips